Rick Rhoades, who works with the Birmingham
offensive line, brings 30 years of championship coaching experience
to the staff of the Thunderbolts. Included in those 30 years
are a proven history of championships and playoff appearances.

A 17-year veteran of the college coaching ranks, Rhoades helped
guide Troy State University to a pair of NCAA Division II
national championships, in 1984 as the defensive coordinator
and again in 1987 as the head coach. Rhoades was also the
head coach at Southern Illinois and Nicholls State. Other
collegiate assistant stops include Alabama, Kentucky, Stephen
F. Austin and North Alabama.

Rhoades also has 13 years high school coaching experience,
coming to the Thunderbolts from Pelham High School where he
posted a 41-19 record and five playoff appearances in five
years. Other prep stops include Jeff Davis (Ala.) High School
and Mountain Brook (Ala.) High School, where he guided the
Spartans to a 14-0 record and a state title in 1976.

A 1970 Central Missouri State graduate, Rhoades has compiled
a 114-63-3 record as a head coach and a 216-110-5 overall
record. He earned his Masterís degree in 1975 from Troy State.

Rhoades, 54, and his wife Elizabeth, are the parents of two
grown sons. Robert Vincent (25) is an assistant football coach
at Tusculum College and John Michael (20) is a licensed pilot.